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Costs

Fees: Home fee status

For students classified as home fee status and starting their first undergraduate degree, Cambridge University charges fees at the maximum allowed by the UK government. The tuition fee for students who started their course in October 2018 is £9,250 (for all courses), and the home tuition fee will rise in subsequent years in line with inflation.

The tuition fees for students starting in October 2019 are published on the central Cambridge University website once available, and are also anticipated to rise each year in line with inflation.

It is important that you understand that home tuition fees will not need to be paid up front. Currently, home students pay their fees through government loans that are repaid after graduation, and only once a graduate earns more than £25,000 per year. For details of these loans and the further financial support available please see our financial support page.

Students studying for a first undergraduate degree and with a home fee status do not have to pay additional College fees. Their main expenditure during their time at Cambridge will be living costs.

Fees: EU nationals

The Education Secretary confirmed on 2 July 2018 that: 'students from the European Union starting courses in England in the 2019/20 academic year will continue to be eligible for home fee status’. This announcement, along with the announcements made in October 2016 and April 2017, allows the University of Cambridge to confirm that the fee for undergraduate EU students who are already studying at Cambridge, or who will start their studies in 2018 or 2019, will be at the applicable Home rate (which for undergraduate students may be up to the maximum level allowed under UK law for each year) for the duration of their course. They will also be able to access financial support for the duration of their course. Please note that all fees are liable to rise annually.

The fee status of EU nationals for 2020 entry onwards has yet to be determined by the UK government. Students from non-UK European Union countries should regularly check for updates at: www.cam.ac.uk/eu.

Fees: For a second undergraduate degree

Living Costs

As a student in Cambridge your living costs are comparable with other universities in the UK, and often can be less. For UK students, a reasonable estimate for total living costs in 2017- 18 is £8,960 for the three terms of the normal academic year, and we estimate £9,160 for 2018-19. Overseas students should increase this figure for extra travel or accommodation costs according to their circumstances. We recommend that overseas students currently allow £10,080 per year, and we estimate £10,310 in 2018-19. The living costs are made up of the following things:

Rent

Unlike most UK universities, Cambridge guarantees accommodation to all undergraduate students throughout their courses. At King's, we have two types of room rental arrangement, a 29-week and a 35-week agreement (this last allows you to stay in your room over the Christmas and Easter vacations). Otherwise, special permission is required to remain in College rooms during the vacations. Currently, the cheapest rent is £949.94 per term (for the least expensive rent band on a 29-week lease). The most expensive is £1,720.13 per term (for the most expensive rent band on a 35-week lease). The prices include heating and electricity. See the Accommodation page.

Meals

All students have access to College dining facilities, where you can buy cafeteria-style meals three times a day. There is a termly catering charge, currently £127.65, which contributes to the fixed costs of the kitchens and allows students to be charged at a lower rate. A typical one-course meal is in the range £3 - 4. Students do not have to eat in the cafeteria, and there are shared kitchens available in most accommodation blocks, each equipped with a fridge and microwave. Larger kitchens may also have ovens and hobs. See the food page.

Travelling

Transport costs in Cambridge are minimal, as the city is small enough to walk or cycle.

Books

There are a total of 149 libraries across the university, and a very well-stocked library in King's. Specialist study needs are catered for in departmental libraries and in the main University Library. With so many libraries available you shouldn’t have to buy many books for your course.

Computers

Excellent computer facilities are available in King’s, with free internet access and a termly printing allowance. Most of the current students choose to have their own computers, with high-speed internet access available in student rooms and wifi in the bar and coffee shop.

Socialising

How much you spend on socialising is your choice, but it is worth noting that, as many social events are College-based and student-run, they do not cost very much. You'll also find discounted prices at the King's bar and coffee shop.

Clubs and Societies

King's has a range of facilities to support all sorts of activities, from art, music and photography to a wide variety of sports. These activities are all available free or at a very reduced rate to current students. See the societies, sports and music pages.

The college system here makes it comparatively cheap to live, as meals are subsidised in College, you don't have to pay rent during vacation periods when you're at home, and electricity and internet bills are included in the rent. "